BASIC DBS Checks for individuals
Individuals are entitled to apply for a Basic DBS (CRB) check or Basic Disclosure for any reason. This check is available to anyone living in England or Wales and is a search carried out by the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS). When issued, the Basic DBS certificate will show any unspent criminal convictions and conditional cautions. The certificate will belong to you and it will be your responsibility to show it on request.
DBS FEE: £21.50 NO VAT + OUR ADMIN FEE: £32.50 INC VAT + ONLINE ID VERIFICATION: £6 INC VAT
Get your Basic DBS form completed in under 10 minutes with results delivered as quickly as 24 hours, No set-up fee, no fuss
WHAT IS A BASIC DBS CHECK?
A Basic Disclosure or Basic DBS is a search for any 'unspent' convictions or conditional cautions on your record. The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) conduct these checks for people working in England or Wales. For applicants in Scotland, these checks would be completed by Disclosure Scotland.
Basic DBS checks are available to anyone who needs one, employer or individual. They provide a snapshot of someone's criminal record and can help employers make safe, informed hiring decisions. Safeguarding society is our mission and safer recruitment is vital to achieving this.
how do i apply for a Basic DBS Check?
Completing your Basic DBS Check with Personnel Checks takes literally a few minutes. Simply start your application from the buttons on this page, complete the information, and pay for your check. Then you’ll just need to upload some ID (you can find a full guide on this process here) and confirm your personal details.
Then just sit back, relax and wait for your certificate to arrive in the post. It really is that easy!
can I only have a Basic DBS Check?
Until recently, Standard and Enhanced DBS Checks were only available for organisations applying on behalf of their employees/contractors. As of January 2026, these checks are now available for self-employed individuals who will be working in regulated activity.
If you believe you are working in regulated activity and need a higher level of check, click the button below for more information.
Thousands of individuals choose Personnel Checks
Individual Basic DBS FAQs
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A Basic Disclosure (also known as a Police Act Disclosure) is a certificate which confirms if an individual currently has any Unspent Convictions under The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This level of check is carried out by the Government organisation the' Disclosure and Barring Service.
An unspent conviction is a conviction that is either quite recent or quite severe. It will show up on an applicant's record because it has either only just happened or it was a very severe conviction.
This certificate can be applied by anyone, individuals or organisations can apply for these checks. The Basic check usually takes approximately 2 weeks to be processed.
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Historically, you couldn’t process either Standard or Enhanced DBS Check online as an individual.
However, since 2026, self-employed persons and individuals entering into a private contract, who also meet the eligibility criteria, can apply for Standard or Enhanced DBS Checks.
To get started, click here. -
Historically, it has been difficult getting an Enhanced DBS Check when your self-employed.
However, thanks to recent rule changes - as long as you meet the eligibility criteria - self-employed persons can now apply for Enhanced DBS Checks!
All you need to do is get in touch with our team, they’ll assess your eligibility and then get you all set up with your DBS application.
Click here to get started. -
Historically, it has been difficult getting an Standard DBS Check when your self-employed.
However, thanks to recent rule changes - as long as you meet the eligibility criteria - self-employed persons can now apply for Standard DBS Checks!
All you need to do is get in touch with our team, they’ll assess your eligibility and then get you all set up with your DBS application.
Click here to get started. -
Online ID Verification is a way to confirm your identity during an Online DBS Check. Online ID Verification is built into the Personnel Checks product.
You simply upload the required ID to our Online ID portal and take a selfie.
Once you have completed this successfully, your data is automatically populated onto the application form, straight from the documents you’ve uploaded.
This makes the application process quicker and significantly reduces the risk of typos and other errors by removing the need for manual data entry.
You have two attempts to complete the OIDV process. Failing this, you will be prompted to complete in-branch ID verification at the post office.
You can find more information in the ‘Fallback IDV Methods’ of our Subject guide here.
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When applying for a check you need certain documents and depending on the level of the check, these can differ.
For a Basic DBS Check you are required to provide one form of ID. Usually, 2 are required, but our Online ID Verification service removes the requirement for a supporting document.
For Online ID Verification, there are only 3 documents that can be used: Passport, Driving Licence, or, Biometric Residence Permit.If you do not have these documents available, you can find more information in our guide here.
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Online ID Verification uses advanced technology to confirm your identity via uploading 2 forms of ID and taking a selfie. This process speeds up the application process by pulling your personal details from your ID documents and populating them on to your form.
If for some reason, you cannot complete the Online ID Verification process, you will be prompted to use our fallback method. This is known as in-branch ID verification.
You can find a full guide on this and how Online ID Verification works here. -
A whole range of different jobs require a DBS Check in place.
Contract work carried out in schools or hospitals usually require an Enhanced DBS Check. Some companies simply have a policy that all contractors have a Basic DBS Check in place before they will work together.
You can find more info here.
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To track your Basic application easily online, click here. You will just need your form reference number, your date of birth and your surname.
To track your check over the phone, Applicants and counter-signatories (like MyCheck by Personnel Checks) can call the Disclosure & Barring Service directly on 03000 200 190.
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DBS Certificates will be posted to the current address as it appears on the application form, whether it is a domestic or overseas address.
However, the Disclosure and Barring Service will not accept responsibility for certificates that get lost in the post to international addresses.